Romania presidential elections 2019: Close to one million voters in Diaspora; Romanians abroad use vote to share feelings for homeland

Update 4: About 900,000 Romanians voted abroad in the second round of the presidential elections, by 20:00 (Bucharest time), surpassing all expectations.

The number is more than double compared to the second round of the presidential elections in 2014 when 377,000 Romanians voted abroad, of whom close to 90% voted for Klaus Iohannis. If the share of votes remains similar, then the vote in the Diaspora will likely consolidate what is already anticipated to be a historic victory for the incumbent president.

Over 180,000 Romanians voted in Italy, more than 150,000 in the UK, and close to 150,000 in Germany. In Spain, there were over 120,000 voters and 43,000 in France.

Some politicians, including former prime minister Dacian Ciolos, currently president of PLUS and leader of the Renew group in the European Parliament, said the record number of voters abroad should also lead to better representation for them in Romania's Parliament. "I salute the record participation of Romanians from the Diaspora. I think it is urgent to amend the electoral law so that they are represented by a number of MPs proportional at least with their participation in the vote. Today, Diaspora votes represent about 10% of the total votes, but the Diaspora only has 1.5% of the seats in the Parliament. It is a flagrant violation of the principle of equality of citizens and, implicitly, of equality between their votes. What kind of equal vote is this? Romanians, wherever they are, should be encouraged to vote, because, in this way, they keep in touch with the country, and the country keeps hoping that one day they will return,” Cioloş wrote on Facebook. He added that he wishes to see as many of the Romanians abroad return to the country and get involved directly by running in the local elections next year.

Update 3: Over 750,000 Romanians voted in the Diaspora voted in the second round of the presidential elections, by 16:50 (Bucharest time), a record presence. In the first round, the total number of voters abroad reached 675,000, at the end of the three voting days. More than 155,000 Romanians voted in Italy, 126,000 in the UK and Germany, and more than 100,000 in Spain. Four polling stations in London and one in Brussels recorded over 5,000 voters.

The first official exit poll results will be available at 21:00 (Bucharest time). However, partial exit polls show president Klaus Iohannis heading towards a historic win.

Update 2: Over 500,000 Romanians voted abroad in the second round of the presidential elections in Romania, by 12:40 on Sunday. The presence abroad has been higher so far than in the second round. For example, in the first round, the 500,000-voters threshold was reached at about 16:00.